Lot 1030 Dα

Sebastiaen Vrancx was closely acquainted with the painters of the Brueghel family. The influence of Pieter Breughel is especially evident in some of his earlier works, which also applies to the present winter scene. The small composition shows the slaughtering of a pig in a snowy landscape. The scene is one of the “labours of the months”, a series motifs which enjoyed great popularity in 17th century Antwerp. The labours series depicts the typical rural tasks carried out in each month of the year, with the slaughtering of pigs being the task carried out at the beginning of winter. This painting is thought to be a relatively early example of Vrancx's work, as he later dedicated himself almost entirely to the depiction of battle scenes.
The piece is to be included in the forthcoming catalogue raisonné of this artist's works.